The Measure of a Nation: How to Regain America's Competitive Edge and Boost Our Global Standing

The author has done every thing he can to keep this book factual and non-political, however, when you are talking about major changes to the structure of our government, educational systems, gun laws, etc., it is hard to stay away from politics. I agee with the recommendations that he offers at the end of each category, but I personally would go much further with changes than he does.We live in a great country but even great countries need to make basic changes now and then. I think most citizens in the USA know things are not working in our country like they use to 25 years ago. Read this book and you will find out exactly what it is that needs to be changed. After that comes the hard part: agreeing on what the new USA should look like.

The Measure of a Nation was a quick read for me. This book was just finished in early 2012 so very up to date. I have to say that the author nailed our significant national problems in the order of significance I would have put them in if I were writing the book. The beauty of this is that the author is a statistical person and if he has an political axe to grind he did not do it in this book. His major subjects from my memory are.1. Health care. The best overall view of this subject I have read. He points out where we are falling down in comparison to our closest competitor countries and addresses both the delivery of services but also the costs. I had not thought of several of his major points and conclusions and I have to say I was very enlightened by it.2.Education (again this is from memory - I have already sent the book to a friend to read) . Great statistical analysis and comparison. He again points out how we compare with other similar nations and how we need to make improvements. I did think he gave a bit too little thought to how free market solutions might work, but no book is perfect. The author is no libertarian. If I had written the book I would have talked at length about possible free market solutions. This was not done here. But he did point out the biggest issue we have with our current public schools.3. Crime and punishment. I have had a very close family member murdered by a handgun. The author points out the absurd situation in the United States where we have assault weapons and vast amounts of handguns in the hands of virtually anyone. His solution is well thought out and would be my solution of the possible ones. He also discusses at length our population of incarcerated citizens compared to the other nations closest to us. Again I think he is on the right track.4. The state of our political system. I have to say here that he makes brilliant points. He talks about just how free we are and what we have done to update our system in the last 200 years. Not much.5. Corporations. Here he discusses the differences between out corporations and the ones in competitor nations. Very eye opening.6. How do we compare with other nations with regard to who earns what. No shock here. Our money has gone to the top people in the last 50 years. Far more so than our close competitors. And his comments on personal mobility in economic status is very illuminating.I recommend this book highly.

This book takes the debate on America's future away from talking (orrather, bickering) heads and gives it back to reasoning (andreasonable) people. It presents a data and fact-based--but stillpassionate--argument for fundamental change in America's approach toour most precious rights and responsibilities.From my work in conflict and post-conflict zones, I know that one ofour biggest weaknesses is measuring effectiveness. Finding the rightmetrics to indicate whether our policies and programs are working ornot is just as much a problem at home as it is in internationaldevelopment work. "Measure of a Nation" offers an answer to thischallenge, pulling together a collection of measurements that can helpus not only evaluate our system, but also improve it.Friedman describes the book as "an inexpensive trip abroad." Thatimage perfectly captures the sense of this study. Reading thecomparisons between the education, health, and governance approachesof our major competitor nations gave me the same feeling that I getfrom traveling, or from sitting down to dinner with a group of peoplefrom different countries. There is a feeling of excitement and ofpossiblity when confronted with a new option or approach that I hadnever considered, but that people in other countries take for granted.My work regularly brings me into contact with people from around theworld who are equally surprised by the choices Americans have made onour most important issues. What they do not know is that often we arenot making a conscious choice between all the options, because of ourlack of awareness of the alternatives that other nations have used."Measure of a Nation" takes the ideas and excitement of those travelsand conversations and distills them into 267 pages, and gives us thepower to make more informed choices in the future.In his conclusions, Friedman does not underestimate the political willand mobilization that would be required to change our system, but I amnot sure that I share his faith that we can or will make that change.If this book is not used as a guide for fundamental change, hiswarning of an increasingly unstable and inpoverished future for ourcountry will be realized.